Dental Hygienist

My favorite and most difficult classes were Histology/Embryology and oral pathology we had fun memorizing, questioning and doing a few projects. The most difficult thing for me was to work on group projects. And yes I survived group projects (not a fan of these). I can now admit that these were very beneficial when working with a small group or staff every day!

★ Anatomy and physiology (hands down)

★ The Science courses including A & P, Chemistry, Microbiology as well as Psychology, Speech and Communications were all very helpful and necessary.

Periodontics was the most difficult, due to the big picture aspect to the disease. I didn't really understand how it all came together until I got into the work force.Through experience I began to see patients who had health issues that affected their perio status.

Working with full blown perio cases brought it all together for me.

If you experience irritation or shooting pains when eating or brushing teeth, try a desensitizing toothpaste.

These brighten teeth but won't bleach them shades lighter. For that, you need whitening strips, trays with bleaching gel, or in-office treatments, such as Zoom 3 and Bright smile. Ask your dentist which is right for you.

If your teeth build up tartar quickly between dentist visits, this is a good option. But some tartar-control formulas can be too abrasive for teeth. If a toothpaste feels gritty when you rub it between your fingers, stay away.

Position your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums. Move it back and forth across one quadrant in gentle, tooth-wide strokes. Brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of each tooth, focusing on one quadrant at a time.

Probably not. That basic, soft-bristled toothbrush will work just as well - if you use the right technique.

Ideally, you should brush after each meal or snack to quickly remove decay-causing, odor-emitting particles (like food) and bacteria from the tooth's surface.

If that seems impossible, aim for at least twice a day. Not brushing increases risk of cavities, bad breath, tooth decay and bone loss.

Just because your teeth are made of hard enamel, it doesn't mean you should scrub them like you would a dirty pot.

Scrubbing that's too aggressive or a toothbrush that's too hard can harm gums and tooth enamel.

Brush for two minutes every time (half a minute for each quadrant of teeth), and use a soft-bristled toothbrush.

★ Completing my class IV patient. It was very rewarding.

★ Wow every experience was one to remember.

1: The link between systemic health and oral condition.

2: The depth of study and many other subjects to be mastered in DH was amazing.

★ Patient management would be a huge aspect of the daily workday. It takes all kinds to make the world go around and many of them will sit in you dental chair.

★ To clean every corner of my house and train my boys better because there was no looking back.

1: Cleaning teeth.

2: I thought it was all about teeth and gums!

★ I knew health care was one of the fastest growing career areas, good pay, flexible hours. I didn't expect to love the work as much as I do.

★ I wanted to be in a profession that I could apply my communication skills to teach people of all ages how to be healthier. Hygiene chose me!

★ More time with the ultrasonic would have been helpful.After four years of work I finally feel pretty effective with the ultrasonic. Also, sharpening the instrument was a challenge.I have worked very diligently to become proficient at this skill.

★ The two biggies for me are coding and scheduling as I had no prior dental experience.

These tools are available on their own, and you can find them at the end of some toothbrushes. They stimulate gums to toughen up tissue so they won't bleed as easily. Massage gums once a day.

These remove bacteria from the tongue, but a toothbrush does the job just as well. Make sure to scrape daily for best results.

If you're taking care of the basics, everything else is just extra, but it still helps.

It's not necessary if you're brushing and flossing several times a day, unless you have tooth decay, in which case your dentist may prescribe a fluoride rinse.

But there's no harm in using a mouthwash for fresher breath. Swish it around after flossing and brushing to remove plaque and kill remaining bacteria.